WASHINGTON — President Obama had a surefire explanation for why he thought his jokes at the Gridiron Dinner weren’t as funny as in past years — federal budget cuts.

“My joke writers have been placed on furlough,” Obama said at the annual media charity event.

Obama joked about the recent battle between the White House and Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward, famous for helping chase President Richard Nixon out of office. Woodward recently said he felt intimidated when the administration told him he was going to regret what he wrote about the cuts.

“Hey can anybody tell me when an administration has ever regretted picking a fight with Bob Woodward?” Obama asked. “What’s the worst that can happen?”

Obama also poked fun at Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who interrupted his response to the State of the Union speech to take a hurried swig of water. Obama paused at one point in his Gridiron speech and took a long, slow drink of water.

“That, Marco Rubio, is how you take a sip of water,” he said.

He also lampooned Vice President Joe Biden and his possible 2016 presidential run.

“Let’s face it, his age is an issue,” Obama said. “Just the other day I had to take Joe aside and say, ‘Joe, you are way too young to be the pope.’ ”

Secretary of State John Kerry also got ribbed after succeeding Hillary Rodham Clinton.

“He is doing everything he can to ensure continuity,” Obama said. “Frankly, though, I think it’s time for him to stop showing up at work in pantsuits.”